- Common ling
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Common ling Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Gadiformes Family: Lotidae Genus: Molva Species: M. molva Binomial name Molva molva
(Linnaeus, 1758)Molva molva range map. The common ling or simply the ling, Molva molva, is a large member of the cod family. An ocean fish whose habitat is in the Atlantic region and can be found around Iceland, Faroe Islands, British Isles, the Norse coast and occasionally around Newfoundland, the ling has a long slender body that can reach 2 metres in length; in adulthood, it is generally a deep-running fish, spending much of its life at depths of 100 m or more; younger fish are found at shallower depths.
The ling is edible; its flesh is prized and can be considered interchangeable with cod in either its fresh, salted or dried forms. The salted roe of the ling is considered a delicacy in Spain and is known as huevas de maruca. The lutefisk – ling that is first dried, then soaked in water and then steeped in a lye of soda and slaked lime – is a traditional dish at the Swedish Christmas table.
Details of distribution
Specific seas of occurrence include the Norwegian Sea along the coastal shelves and in the Sea of the Hebrides, the latter where the species is abundant.[1]
References
- "Molva molva". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=164760. Retrieved 19 March 2006.
- Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2006). "Molva molva" in FishBase. January 2006 version.
- Alan Davidson. Oxford Companion to Food (1999), "Ling". p.454 ISBN 0-19-211579-0
- C.Michael Hogan, (2011) Sea of the Hebrides. Eds. P. Saundry & C.J.Cleveland. Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment. Washington DC.
- Marine Fauna Gallery of Norway
Line notes
- ^ C.Michael Hogan (2011)
Categories:- Lotidae
- Edible fish
- Spanish cuisine
- Fish of Europe
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